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[DJW]

Afternoon All


Thinners arrived. Varnish time...








This is first coat of many.  Epifanes High Gloss Clear Varnish, plan is to add 3 coats thinned 30% with Epifanes Brush Thinners before considering sanding. 24 hours between coats.  Then I'll reduce the thinners to 15% ish for subsequent coats.  The Epifanes is Tung Oil based, like Le Tonkinois and has a similar amber hue (even though it's labelled 'clear'), but for me when i tested the Epifanes it gives a harder finish that can be more easily sanded, or maybe it was down to me lacking patience.  The Le Tonkinois gives an exceptional finish like glass in the right hands (see UKMikes epic Aquarama builds...), I'm really hoping the Epifanes will give me a similar finish.





At the moment I'm not too stressed about having to door open and an airflow, the fumes are not fun...  I have a filtered spray mask which helps, but not being in same space while it's curing is better.  At least the dog is getting more walks...


Meant to add, I'm using 'Axus Decor Varnish Brushes (Lime Series)' the 25mm version for the early coats.  They're about £2.50 each on Amazon, synthetic and have yet to drop anything, very smooth and lightweight.  I'm applying varnish to the boat in one go as there's no real separation line between hull and deck.

Best regards to all.
David.

[DJW]

Afternoon All


Short update.  Here are a couple of pics of the third coat of thinned epifanes:








I applied fourth coat yesterday afternoon, still building up some depth with just a rub over with scotchbrite between coats, so far so good.


Also been working on replacing the two electronics boxes.  3D printed this time so I can build in component supports, connection ports, cable routing and using better (more robust) connectors.


Pics to follow.


Best regards to all.
David.

[T888]

Lovely David 

[Mark T]

Lovely David 

I agree - I would have trouble putting that lovely boat in the water

[DJW]

Haha..!  Thanks for the comments.  And I can't wait to get it on the water..!  If I can get it running in time for Mayhem at Wicksteed next May I'll be very happy.  It won't be finished for sure, but might be ready to float...

Some pics of the new electronics cases, they sit port and starboard of the LiPos and are powered from a 4S LiPo, then voltage is dropped to 12v and 5v in port case and made available to modules in both cases:









And a raised floor to allow the cable routing underneath the modules:




Both boxes, and a gratuitous picture of the shiny mahogany after fourth coat...!



I have a question too if anyone wants to comment, a sanity check if you like, and to avoid blue smoke.  I plan to use three LiPos, one for each motor and one for ancillary stuff.  I'd like the Rx powered from the 'ancillary' LiPo so it can share ground and signals with other electronics on same battery, so far so good.  Can I just remove the +ve from both ESC becs that plug into the Rx and have the ESCs and motors powered by their main power connectors to the two 'other' LiPos..?

Best regards to all.
David.

[tsenecal]

Technically yes, on the three separate lipos, but instead of removing the red wire on the ESCs, take a 3" servo extension and remove the red wire from it, then plug the ESC into that, and the extension into the receiver (x2 for both ESC).  That way, if you ever need to plug an ESC into a programmer or similar to update or change its config, you don't have to repair anything.

[KitS]

Now that's a BRILL idea. 


How come I never came up with that one myself, after years of using radio control?

[DJW]

Agreed, excellent and simple solution. Thanks for that..!